24 — THE CHRONICLE
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2019
PETS
COMMUNITY
NUTRITIONALLY SPEAKING
Dogs (and cats) support optimal health
few months ago, to lower blood pressure and
and a couple of healthier cholesterol and
years after
triglyceride levels,
our last
resulting in over-
dog, Poppy
all better cardio-
died, my wife Donna
vascula r health.
went to the animal
Dog owners who
shelter and brought
experience a heart
home our new family
attack have a higher
member: cat-friendly,
survival rate as
8-year-old Emma. YAAKOV LEVINE well.
We have two cats, so
Dog owners
it was important to
are typically more fit
fi nd a dog that is cat-friendly,
and Emma had passed that and active. In our home
test. As older folks, we we have an extra couple
thought to adopt an older, of walks daily since we
more mellow dog – which adopt e d Em ma seven
Emma is by the end of a day months ago. We can easily
of walks, playing and train- get the 2.5 hours of weekly
exercise that health experts
ing. Yikes!
Having a dog on the house- recommend.
“People love to be outside
hold fi lled an empty space
for both of us, even if the to walk their dog and be
jury is still out for the kitties. with their dog,” says Kay
And don’t get me wrong, the Joubert, director of compan-
kitties have important roles ion animal services at
in our lives (Violet is on my PAWS, a Washington-based
lap as “we” write this) and we animal advocacy organi-
love them dearly, but a dog zation. “It helps them to
fi lls a bigger heart space for be more active”. And this
me, and possibly for Donna activity time helps us be
more mobile into our 70s
as well.
As a newly retired person, and 80s. A recent study in
I now have more time to the journal Gerontologist
spend at home with my found that older adults who
two- and four-legged family walked their dogs experi-
members, and I feel an extra enced “lower body mass
level of relaxation as a result. index, fewer activities of
There are many documented daily living limitations,
health benefits we garner fewer doctor visits, and
from having pets – especially more frequent moderate and
dogs – and here are my top vigorous exercise.
10:
Looking to drop
A
a few extra pounds?
Dogs don’t just fi ll Daily dog walks help us
your heart with love to lose weight, since you
and joy ; studies show that are nudged to do 10, 20 or
having a canine pal is linked
even 30 minutes of walk-
ing each time. A 2010 study
showed that public hous-
ing residents who walked
“loaner” dogs fi ve times a
week lost an average of 14
pounds over the course of a
year; the participants also
suggested that they did not
consider this exercise, but
their responsibility to the
dogs: “They need us to walk
them.”
As we age, and espe-
cially during our Pacifi c
Northwest rainy season
we don’t get out as much
to meet folks. Researchers
have found that 40% of dog
owners make friends more
easily, possibly because
the vast majority speak
and connect with other dog
owners during walks.
Dog owners tend to be a
little more extroverted or
outgoing,” says Joubert.
“When you start to engage
them about their companion
animal, people tend to open
up and really blossom. They
want to share stories about
their favorite friend.”
Spending time with
our pets can support
a lower anxiety and stress
level, often resulting in
lower blood pressu re.
Our pet activities support
increased levels of sero-
tonin and dopamine – two
feel-good neurotransmit-
ters that play a role in our
feelings of calmness and
wellbeing. People perform-
ing stressful tasks do better
with their dog around, and,
wait for it … studies show
that dogs ease tension at the
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offi ce and between married
couples!
healthy.
In the past, experts
As we get older, believed that having a
especially after we dog in the house caused
retire, it can be a chal- children’s allergies. Recent
lenge to fi nd structure and
meaning for our lives day
in and day out. In our case,
we have the goal of a couple
of dog walks a day, we like
being out in nature, espe-
cially in fall with its color-
ful vistas. Having Emma,
who is always ready for a
walk, adds some incentive
for us to get out of the door.
No matter how we are feel-
ing, physically or emotion-
ally, getting out for that walk
offers dividends.
Having a dog can
help prevent depres-
sion. Raise your hands if
you get a bit down during
the gloomy fall and winter
seasons? It is widely
believed that dog owners are
less prone to SAD (Seasonal
Affective Disorder) and the
accompanying depression,
and therapy dogs – animals
that do not stay in your home
– have been shown to be
effective in easing depres-
sion for a variety of people,
old and young, sick and
research has taught us that
the opposite is true: Dogs
and cats actually can lower
a child’s potential to become
allergic by up to 33%,
according to a 2004 study
published in the Journal
of Allergy and Clinical
Immunology. These kids
may even develop a stronger
immune system!
If you are over 65
and own a pet, odds
are you seek medical help
around 30% less often that
folks without pets. A study
in the Journal of Personality
and Social Psychology deter-
mined that pet-owning seniors
on Medicare “reported fewer
doctor visits over a one-year
period than respondents
who did not own pets” and
“Owners of dogs in partic-
ular were buffered from the
impact of stressful life events
on physician utilization.”
And finally, it is
believed that owning
a dog can help detect
and manage a variety of
illnesses and debilitation.
Some have been trained to
sniff out skin, kidney, blad-
der and prostate cancer.
Service dogs support folks
with traumatic injuries and
support increased mobil-
ity and independence.
Alzheimer’s patients are
soothed by their canine
companions, mitigating
those bouts of emotional
fl are-ups and aggression.
So, If you are contem-
plating inviting a dog into
your family, you will be
able to look forward to
these benefi ts as described
above. There are many small
nonprofit rescue groups
among us in our area, as
well as Greenhill Humane
Society. Salud!
South Willamette
Veterinary Clinic
24 hr. Emergency Service
Large animals only
Wes Violet, DVM
Kris Willaman, DVM
255 Emerald Parkway
541-895-5665
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Greenhill’s Pet of the Week: Lorna
Meet Lorna!
This 1 year old black and brown tabby is Lorna! She loves to
be loved! Lorna loves to sit on her companions lap and be pet
all day. She enjoys playing with feathery toys, window watch-
ing and taking a cat nap. A volunteer described her as “sweet,
loves head rubs and deserves to be a queen!”
Lorna can be nervous in a new environment so she needs a
home that will be patient and give her time to adjust. Once
she is relaxed and comfortable she loves to be the center of
attention! Lorna needs a cat free home where she can get lots
of love. This pretty lady is very deserving of her forever family
to fall in love with!
If you are interested in adopting a cat or would like to learn
more about adding a cat into your family, please visit Greenhill Humane Society.
Greenhill Humane Society is open for adoptions seven days a week, 11 am – 6 pm at 88530
Green Hill Rd in Eugene. For more information call (541) 689.1503 or visit www.green-hill.org.
Greenhill Humane Society is open for adoptions seven days a week, 11 am – 6 pm at 88530 Green Hill Rd in Eugene.
For more information call (541) 689.1503 or visit www.green-hill.org.
Sponsored by: The Creswell Chronicle • 34 W. Oregon Ave. • 541-895-2197
www.thecreswellchronicle.com